Maldives sculpture by British artist torn down for being threat to 'Islamic unity'

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An under-water sculpture installed in the popular idyllic islands of the Maldives and commissioned by a high-end hotel brand has been demolished after it was judged anti-Islamic.

The work, Coralarium, "a semi-submerged tidal gallery space" by British sculptur, diver and naturalist Jason deCaires Taylor was unveiled in July at the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi resort, but was last week taken apart.

The artwork, which took over nine months and a team of marine engineers, steel fabricators, divers and mould-makers to build, was broken apart in a matter of hours by pickaxes, saws and rope, by order of the Maldives government.

The islands' autocratic government said that the work, which included hybrid form sculptures – part-human, part-plant, part-coral - represented "idols" and ordered its demolition. The work had been subject to a series of complaints from religious scholars.